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Brotherhood of the Revolution: How America's Founders Forged a New Nation
Mount Holyoke College professor Joseph Ellis delivers a course that is a chronological survey of the period from 1763 to 1800 and discusses the single most consequential event in all of American history, the American Revolution. The key figures during this time, or the brotherhoood of the revolution, achieved many successes for America that made a lasting impact on the future of this nation.
Contents: Lecture 1. The Revolution and the generation -- Lecture 2. Anglo-America in 1763 and Benjamin Franklin -- Lecture 3. The Constitutional crisis, 1763-74, and John Adams -- Lecture 4. The imperial crisis, 1763-75, and George Washington -- Lecture 5. The spirit of '76 and Thomas Jefferson -- Lecture 6. What the Declaration declared -- Lecture 7. The long war, 1775-83, and Joseph Plumb Martin -- Lecture 8. Confederation to Constitution and Alexander Hamilton -- Lecture 9. A more perfect union and James Madison -- Lecture 10. The ghost at the banquet: slavery -- Lecture 11. Crucial decade: The Federalist agenda -- Lecture 12. Crucial decade: party politics -- Lecture 13. The restoration of 1800 -- Lecture 14. American dialogue: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Contents: Lecture 1. The Revolution and the generation -- Lecture 2. Anglo-America in 1763 and Benjamin Franklin -- Lecture 3. The Constitutional crisis, 1763-74, and John Adams -- Lecture 4. The imperial crisis, 1763-75, and George Washington -- Lecture 5. The spirit of '76 and Thomas Jefferson -- Lecture 6. What the Declaration declared -- Lecture 7. The long war, 1775-83, and Joseph Plumb Martin -- Lecture 8. Confederation to Constitution and Alexander Hamilton -- Lecture 9. A more perfect union and James Madison -- Lecture 10. The ghost at the banquet: slavery -- Lecture 11. Crucial decade: The Federalist agenda -- Lecture 12. Crucial decade: party politics -- Lecture 13. The restoration of 1800 -- Lecture 14. American dialogue: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2004
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About the author
Joseph J. Ellis
40 books1,319 followersJoseph John-Michael Ellis III is an American historian whose work focuses on the lives and times of the Founding Fathers of the United States. His book American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson won a National Book Award in 1997 and Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for History. Both of these books were bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 6, 2017
Great introduction to the events leading up to and consisting of the American Revolution in an efficient format. Much recommended as a great review as well as introduction allowing for deeper exploration of the Founders and milestones of the revolution.
January 18, 2018
I wish I could give this a 6th star.
This series of lectures on CD starts in 1763 and goes through the election of 1800 with a nice epilogue of Jefferson and Adams renewing their friendship.
He breaks down the entire American Revolution (note: the revolution, not just the war) and explains how he he picks the start and end point and introduces a series of characters and how they came to join the story: Washington, Jefferson, Adams (John & Abigail), Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, & Joseph Plumb Martin, a soldier from the war.
He honestly critiques the founding fathers strengths and short comings.
I have listened to the entire series numerous times, and will continue to do so.
Excellent, excellent stuff.
This series of lectures on CD starts in 1763 and goes through the election of 1800 with a nice epilogue of Jefferson and Adams renewing their friendship.
He breaks down the entire American Revolution (note: the revolution, not just the war) and explains how he he picks the start and end point and introduces a series of characters and how they came to join the story: Washington, Jefferson, Adams (John & Abigail), Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, & Joseph Plumb Martin, a soldier from the war.
He honestly critiques the founding fathers strengths and short comings.
I have listened to the entire series numerous times, and will continue to do so.
Excellent, excellent stuff.
September 25, 2011
Ellis didn't add that much to my understanding of American history through this book. If you are already familiar with the general outlines of the American Revolution, you might be able to skip it. He does add some colorful anecdotes on the founding fathers he covers in this series, and hearing him deliver the lectures in person adds something for a fan of his books. It is somehow encouraging to hear someone who writes in such a polished fashion guess at something or correct himself.
October 21, 2016
An exceptionally well written chronological account of the American revolutionary period, and the men and women who helped forge the nation. Beginning with the Anglo-American period of 1763 through the revolution itself, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention and finally the passing of the revolutionary generation and the great dialogue carried out between Adams and Jefferson in their twilight years. Joseph Ellis, a Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian, enchanted while informing, and addressed all of the critical moments and lynchpins that made the forging of this nation possible. Observations like "The colonialist did not so much win the war, as that the British lost it", and how issues like slavery and abolition haunted and yet defined the struggle of that moment of establishment, while helping define its ultimate resolution nearly 100 years later during the Civil War. Absolutely loved the work as well as the skill and insight of its author.
October 4, 2025
This lecture series is a really good brief-yet-detailed overview of the American Revolution. Ellis' framework of telling the story by focusing on the most relevant/important individual for each stage makes it really accessible and helps it flow nicely. A great introduction or review for people that want a lot of information in a short amount of time.
July 9, 2018
I enjoyed this overview the history of our founding fathers. Ellis has written several well known books on this era and I would recommend this.
August 12, 2018
Excellent book. The story of the American revolution, using a core group of guys to explain the story. Lots of stuff I didn't know.
October 9, 2018
A great audio lecture series on the founding fathers, the American Revolution and the early period under the Articles of Confederation and the adoption of the constitution.
February 9, 2019
good book about the founding fathers of the US
June 10, 2022
Very good review of the key figures of the revolution.
December 5, 2016
Having read several of Professor Ellis' books, I enjoyed listening to his lectures and appreciated his perspective on a variety of issues even as I disagreed with him on some others. One issue he handled artfully was the legacy of the founding fathers. In America, there are several approaches to their legacy, including:
1. Their greatness is idolized and their flaws ignored.
2. Their flaws are so overwhelming that their legacy has nothing of value. The flaws under consideration are the failures to deal with slavery and to manage the Indian issue.
3. They are flawed great men whose accomplishments were impressive and legion, and we owe them a debt of appreciation, but that debt does not compel us to idolize them.
Like me, Professor Ellis appears to hold the third option. He pulled no punches in discussing slavery, pointing out that the founding fathers acknowledged the incompatibility of slavery with the principles of the Revolution. He also discussed a 1790 debate in Congress concerning two petitions by Quakers to abolish slavery, one of which was signed by none other than Benjamin Franklin. This debate put all the opposing positions and arguments on the table. I am not going to discuss this debate in detail, but will state that Georgia and South Carolina threatened to secede from the union over the potential threat to their economy, an act that might well have destroyed the new republic in its infancy. Ellis' point was that our assessment of the founding fathers with respect to slavery must give consideration to the obstacles they faced.
One area where we disagree is the issue of original intent with regards to the constitution. He holds to living constitution ideology, and I am uncomfortable with it. At any rate, the lectures on the constitutional convention and the ratification debates helped me to better understand the issues. I get the impression that Professor Ellis views constitutional originalists as holding to some form of inspiration of the constitution and ignoring the compromises made in the constitutional convention and the hasty writing of the essays now compiled into the Federalist Papers, which is a bit of a straw man. Many of those compromises are still relevant today. The balancing act between large state and small state interests has continued to ensure that the interests of the populous states do not run roughshod over the interests of the less populated states. The relationship between federal and state power continues to be debated today, and I cannot help thinking that the debate would be a lot less rancorous if we did not federalize so many issues and force one-size-fits-all solutions on states and regions with diverse values. Compromises made two centuries ago showed great wisdom.
One point made by Professor Ellis that I really appreciated was an analogy between the American Revolution and the Vietnam War. At some point, George Washington realized that winning the war was less important than not losing it, and he adopted a Fabian strategy. The British tried to win the war by capturing cities but failed to recognize that the strategic center of the revolution was not population centers, but the continental army itself. In addition, the British felt that national honor was at stake and felt that the loss of the thirteen colonies would start a domino effect of other independence movements. In Vietnam, the U.S. faced off against Vietnamese communists who were using a Fabian strategy. In addition, the U.S. entered the war to prevent the fall of Vietnam to communism, fearing that it would cause other nations in southeast Asia to fall like dominos. The war was dragged out because the U.S. feared the loss of national honor and prestige. Sadly, a communist dictator understood the American Revolution better than the American heirs of the Revolution, not exactly a brilliant reflection on the American education system.
All in all, this was an enjoyable lecture set. We Americans should understand our history and heritage, and this lecture set honors it.
1. Their greatness is idolized and their flaws ignored.
2. Their flaws are so overwhelming that their legacy has nothing of value. The flaws under consideration are the failures to deal with slavery and to manage the Indian issue.
3. They are flawed great men whose accomplishments were impressive and legion, and we owe them a debt of appreciation, but that debt does not compel us to idolize them.
Like me, Professor Ellis appears to hold the third option. He pulled no punches in discussing slavery, pointing out that the founding fathers acknowledged the incompatibility of slavery with the principles of the Revolution. He also discussed a 1790 debate in Congress concerning two petitions by Quakers to abolish slavery, one of which was signed by none other than Benjamin Franklin. This debate put all the opposing positions and arguments on the table. I am not going to discuss this debate in detail, but will state that Georgia and South Carolina threatened to secede from the union over the potential threat to their economy, an act that might well have destroyed the new republic in its infancy. Ellis' point was that our assessment of the founding fathers with respect to slavery must give consideration to the obstacles they faced.
One area where we disagree is the issue of original intent with regards to the constitution. He holds to living constitution ideology, and I am uncomfortable with it. At any rate, the lectures on the constitutional convention and the ratification debates helped me to better understand the issues. I get the impression that Professor Ellis views constitutional originalists as holding to some form of inspiration of the constitution and ignoring the compromises made in the constitutional convention and the hasty writing of the essays now compiled into the Federalist Papers, which is a bit of a straw man. Many of those compromises are still relevant today. The balancing act between large state and small state interests has continued to ensure that the interests of the populous states do not run roughshod over the interests of the less populated states. The relationship between federal and state power continues to be debated today, and I cannot help thinking that the debate would be a lot less rancorous if we did not federalize so many issues and force one-size-fits-all solutions on states and regions with diverse values. Compromises made two centuries ago showed great wisdom.
One point made by Professor Ellis that I really appreciated was an analogy between the American Revolution and the Vietnam War. At some point, George Washington realized that winning the war was less important than not losing it, and he adopted a Fabian strategy. The British tried to win the war by capturing cities but failed to recognize that the strategic center of the revolution was not population centers, but the continental army itself. In addition, the British felt that national honor was at stake and felt that the loss of the thirteen colonies would start a domino effect of other independence movements. In Vietnam, the U.S. faced off against Vietnamese communists who were using a Fabian strategy. In addition, the U.S. entered the war to prevent the fall of Vietnam to communism, fearing that it would cause other nations in southeast Asia to fall like dominos. The war was dragged out because the U.S. feared the loss of national honor and prestige. Sadly, a communist dictator understood the American Revolution better than the American heirs of the Revolution, not exactly a brilliant reflection on the American education system.
All in all, this was an enjoyable lecture set. We Americans should understand our history and heritage, and this lecture set honors it.
March 9, 2009
This is an interesting series of lectures by Professor Ellis, who clearly knows much more about each subject than he is divulging here - but who is able to paint a coherent and story-like interplay of the personalities involved in the American Revolution, Confederation, Constitution, and the first 4 presidential terms. He uses different members of the "brotherhood" as a lens to examine different times and events in the path leading up to nationhood. For example, he uses Ben Franklin and Franklin's insights on colonial society to set the stage for pre-Revolutionary America, John Adams for the imperial acts which get Britain into more and more trouble with its subjects, Jefferson for the Declaration (of course), Madison for the Constitution. He gives brief biographies of these men, as well as Washington and Hamilton, then outlines the problems with the Confederation, the story of the Constitution being assembled in secrecy, Washington's first two terms, Hamilton's financial reforms, the troubled term of John Adams, and the beginning of Jefferson's presidency. There is also a very interesting discussion of the Revolution, its length, and how it was almost immediately lost. He ends with a tender description of the correspondence between John Adams and Jefferson into their declining years.
There are four major threads throughout the history. The first is a serious and detailed examination of the problem of slavery, how it related to the founding fathers and their own ownership of slaves, how it was fastidiously avoided in the Constitution but still was put on a path to extinction by that same document, and how it was debated in Congress on the first occasion that it arose. The second thread is a look at the founding fathers' knowledge that they were performing, writing, and acting for history, and that we are all their audience. If they are revered today, it is because - in some at least small and perhaps possibly large way - they suspected they might, and left records for us. The third thread is the way Ellis emphasizes the contemporary feelings for what was happening - you get the sense that the players involved really didn't know exactly what they were doing, but managed to succeed while brilliantly (but sometimes luckily) improvising. Finally, one cannot listen to this course and not pick up on the amazing effect that George Washington had on all of the people around him. It's clear that even during his lifetime, Washington was larger than life, and maybe we can forgive Parson Weems for embellishing his story a bit.
The thing that I learned from this course that I really didn't understand before I listened to it was the cause of the animosity between Jefferson - a Southern, agrarian aristocrat, and Hamilton, a champion of Northern, urban financiers. This was a battle between two factions of the upper class, but it had profound consequences.
Based on this excellent course, I would recommend Ellis' other books - he has written many popular histories and biographies surrounding this period.
There are four major threads throughout the history. The first is a serious and detailed examination of the problem of slavery, how it related to the founding fathers and their own ownership of slaves, how it was fastidiously avoided in the Constitution but still was put on a path to extinction by that same document, and how it was debated in Congress on the first occasion that it arose. The second thread is a look at the founding fathers' knowledge that they were performing, writing, and acting for history, and that we are all their audience. If they are revered today, it is because - in some at least small and perhaps possibly large way - they suspected they might, and left records for us. The third thread is the way Ellis emphasizes the contemporary feelings for what was happening - you get the sense that the players involved really didn't know exactly what they were doing, but managed to succeed while brilliantly (but sometimes luckily) improvising. Finally, one cannot listen to this course and not pick up on the amazing effect that George Washington had on all of the people around him. It's clear that even during his lifetime, Washington was larger than life, and maybe we can forgive Parson Weems for embellishing his story a bit.
The thing that I learned from this course that I really didn't understand before I listened to it was the cause of the animosity between Jefferson - a Southern, agrarian aristocrat, and Hamilton, a champion of Northern, urban financiers. This was a battle between two factions of the upper class, but it had profound consequences.
Based on this excellent course, I would recommend Ellis' other books - he has written many popular histories and biographies surrounding this period.
December 20, 2013
A great deal. I got the 14(?) disc audio book from about $7 at my local B&N. Overall it's a great review on the war and how we came about the Constitution. There is an entire disc devoted to the slavery issue, and why it wasn't in the Constitution. In all of the discussions (Washington and Jefferson wanted to abolish slavery in the Constitution, even though they had slaves. They were, however, hypocrites on the issue as they both owned slaves), the author did forget to mention that the Founding Fathers needed the states to ratify the Constitution, and in order for it to become the founding document of the new Republic, they needed at least 1 Southern state to ratify the Constitution, which would not have happened had slavery been abolished, so they kicked the can down the street for another 19 or so years, having compromised in that they abolished the importation of more slaves, and the slave trade within certain states (this much was mentioned). I would also like to have seen a further discussion of the Separation of Church and State issue by delving into the Danbury Papers, and most importantly, discussing WHY (they came from a time when governments oppressed certain religions and were, in effect, controlled by others in a manner - the fathers believed in EQUALITY of religious beliefs, and wanted the government out of religion completely - too many people simply do not understand this). I would have also liked to have seen at the end a greater discussion of the Federalist and Anti-Federalists and how they influenced political parties in the immediate and future political landscape.
Other than these issues, the book was really great, and easily worth the price. A great and otherwise very well detailed overview.
Other than these issues, the book was really great, and easily worth the price. A great and otherwise very well detailed overview.
May 25, 2010
For those of you unfamiliar with the Modern Scholar series, an esteemed college professor's class (in this case, Pulitzer Prize winner Joseph Ellis) is recorded and distributed for posterity...and the enjoyment of those of us who aren't fortunte enough to actually attend said class. Seeing as how Ellis teaches at Mount Holyoke College, this was the closest to having him as my professor as I'm likely to get. He's not the best orator (he would occasionally lapse into "Ums" and "Ahs" which drove me crazy), but he really knows his stuff, and the fact that he's obviously passionate about the subject more than made up for his lecturing shortcomings.
I especially enjoyed how he followed one person of note in each lecture. He still taught chronologically but, for each section, would focus on events through the eyes of one particular patriot. This not only gave you an overview of what was occurring throughout the country and the world at the time, but also gave you insight into that person's background and motivations.
The lecture format was also more engaging than your typical audiobook. Let's be honest, not all books written about the American Revolution are gripping page-turners, and if you combine that with a very droll, monotone reader, you have a recipe for an audiobook disaster. So, while Ellis's books tend to the very literary (which can make for a very dull audio version), his lecture - hearing him speak from notes instead of an exact script - was more interesting. I highly recommend this and am looking forward to listening to other Modern Scholar lectures.
I especially enjoyed how he followed one person of note in each lecture. He still taught chronologically but, for each section, would focus on events through the eyes of one particular patriot. This not only gave you an overview of what was occurring throughout the country and the world at the time, but also gave you insight into that person's background and motivations.
The lecture format was also more engaging than your typical audiobook. Let's be honest, not all books written about the American Revolution are gripping page-turners, and if you combine that with a very droll, monotone reader, you have a recipe for an audiobook disaster. So, while Ellis's books tend to the very literary (which can make for a very dull audio version), his lecture - hearing him speak from notes instead of an exact script - was more interesting. I highly recommend this and am looking forward to listening to other Modern Scholar lectures.
March 18, 2010
I actually listened to the audiobook by the Modern Scholar Series, "Brotherhood of the Revolution: How America's Founders Forged a New Nation". This seems to be the same thing! A good book, well narrated and interesting. Ellis does a great job, until the last third of the book, when he makes a few claims that that are in style right now but nevertheless ridiculous. One example is that he says that Thomas Jefferson's first draft of the Declaration of Independence said "We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable" but that Ben Franklin thought that smacked of religiosity and so to fit his more secular preferences changed the wording to "We hold these truths to be self evident". Unless there is a journal entry by Franklin ascribing this motivation to himself, I found this claim silly. Are we to believe that Franklin found the word "sacred" to be to heavy with religious meaning, yet found no problem with the next phrase that said that our rights were endowed by our creator? Also, the man invoked scripture during the Constitutional Convention while making a recommendation that the Convention pray. Such a claim attributing secularism to an overtly religious founding father seemed agenda-driven and out of place and lowered my opinion of the author. Other than a couple such instances, it was a good book.
October 19, 2014
If I had read this long ago I would have thought it wonderful. I believe the lecturer was quite sincere in his presentation of the material, and had some awe for the men and events of our country's founding.
I would highly recommend the "book" (actually a many parted lecture series), always keeping in mind mans understanding of history cannot be accurate or complete without the imparted knowledge given by God, or the men he used to move events and circumstances.
Of the two modern scholar lecture audios I have heard, they seem to be of a high quality standard, so far avoiding the the twisted, acceptable, politically correct horror that I see coming up in our public institutions. Which will be when the majority accepts, a new dark age.
I would highly recommend the "book" (actually a many parted lecture series), always keeping in mind mans understanding of history cannot be accurate or complete without the imparted knowledge given by God, or the men he used to move events and circumstances.
Of the two modern scholar lecture audios I have heard, they seem to be of a high quality standard, so far avoiding the the twisted, acceptable, politically correct horror that I see coming up in our public institutions. Which will be when the majority accepts, a new dark age.
February 1, 2013
This is an audio cd college course by Joseph Ellis, one of my very favorite historians.
It is 14 lectures, each about 30 minutes.
For fans of his Founding Brothers and/or American Creation, this is a must listen. Ellis is honest in his assessments of the Founding Fathers, and his knowledge/expertise is second to none.
There is a study guide available - which I didn't use very much - but is full of useful additional info.
If you like history, love the Revolutionary generation - you'll enjoy this course. It's like sitting in his classroom.
It is 14 lectures, each about 30 minutes.
For fans of his Founding Brothers and/or American Creation, this is a must listen. Ellis is honest in his assessments of the Founding Fathers, and his knowledge/expertise is second to none.
There is a study guide available - which I didn't use very much - but is full of useful additional info.
If you like history, love the Revolutionary generation - you'll enjoy this course. It's like sitting in his classroom.
October 24, 2013
Ellis has great knowledge of this subject, and presents it beautifully.
It is always wonderful to hear and read knowledgable people who are enthusiastic and passionate about their chosen subject and Ellis is all of these.
The insights he gives on the Founders is fair, he gives a thorough background to the major events in the founding of the new nation, and has very entertaining albeit brief tangental stories that just seem to appear like a meteorite on a moonless night, enlightening, delighting, and entertaining, and then right back to the main subject at hand...
A great read.
It is always wonderful to hear and read knowledgable people who are enthusiastic and passionate about their chosen subject and Ellis is all of these.
The insights he gives on the Founders is fair, he gives a thorough background to the major events in the founding of the new nation, and has very entertaining albeit brief tangental stories that just seem to appear like a meteorite on a moonless night, enlightening, delighting, and entertaining, and then right back to the main subject at hand...
A great read.
August 26, 2024
Very good set of lectures covering the founding fathers and the context of the founding itself. It maps roughly onto his book Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, but you get some value out of it being a longer teaching experience so the main points are made clearer and are repeated throughout. The downside is it's not as polished an experience, which is to be expected.
January 10, 2017
This book is truly a part of a lecture series. As such, it isn't really a narrative. Like many professors the author sometimes rambles, but he gets the points across. It was very informative. If I had one knock against it, they post student questions at the end of some of the lectures and the questions they picked had to be from the lamest of students.
October 18, 2011
Ellis is a fun pop-historian, and I enjoy his Revolutionary America stuff. This series of lectures speaks of the character and beliefs of the main players as well as all the dates and places. Great stuff.
August 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this audio. It was in a lecture format, given by Joseph Ellis himself. While I have read a lot about the founders and the revolution, I still learned new things. Ellis does a great job of using people and personalities to make history come alive.
July 7, 2010
This is the audio from a lecture series about the American Revolution. It covers the history of the time as well as mini biographies about the men who were our founding fathers. I thought it was very interesting and helped me have a deeper appreciation for the freedoms I enjoy.
February 15, 2008
This is like a great history class discussing interesting characters and fascinating concepts...and no tests!
August 27, 2015
Audio CD by Portable Professor
September 25, 2009
Excellent audio book, Ellis is capable of explaining the complicated politics of our nation's beginning in a clear and entertaining manner.
June 7, 2010
This is a fascinating account of the Founding Fathers as they worked together in the cause of the American Revolution.
September 27, 2010
Excellent lecture series on American history from 1763 - 1800.
Read
September 23, 2010Patriots: Brotherhood of the American Revolution by Joseph J. Ellis (2004)
April 15, 2011
I got through about 3/4 of this audiobook. It was ok. Some parts were very interesting, others not so much. I just never got around to finishing it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews